Apparatus for the manufacture of paper filters

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for delivering a web of material to a cigarette filter rod machine comprising means for supporting a reel of material from which the web is unrolled, frictional drive means which engage the periphery of the reel to cause it to rotate and a tension device which senses the tension in the web about to enter the filter rod machine, said device actuating means for varying the drive speed of the frictional drive means, to maintain a predetermined tension in the web.

United States Patent 119`1'j Sylvester l i 1111 `3,818,809 [45] June 25, 1974 [54] APPARATUS FoR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER FILTERS [75] inventor: Herbert A. Sylvester, Basildon,

England A [73] Assignee: Carreras Limited, Essex, England [22] Filed; June26, 1972 [21] Appl. No.; 266,139

[52] U.s. C1. 93/1 C, 242/751 [51] lm.c1 A24 s/so [581 Field ofsearch ..93/1C,242/75.1,75.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,222,462 ll/l940 Kaddeland 242/751 2,897,754 8/1959 Spiller et al... 242/75.l X 3,238,852

3/1966 Schur et al.n 93/1 C 3,383,449 5/1968 Miner 93/1 C x 3,518,921 7/1970 Mu11ef,.. 93/1 c 3,741,846 6/1973 Greve... 93/1 c x Primary Examiner-Andrew R. Juliasz Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eyre, Mann & Lucas [57] ABSTRACTl Apparatus for delivering a web of material to a cigarette filter rod machine comprising means for supporting a reel of material from which the web is unrolled, frictional drive means which engage the periphery of the reel to cause it to rotate and a tension device which senses the tension in the web about to enter the filter rod machine, said device actuating means for varying the drive speed of the frictional drive means, to maintain a predetermined tension in the web.

16 Claims, 6 Drawing [Figures PATENTESJuNzSmM SHEET l# UF 4 YQQ APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER FILTERS been creped by a blunt nosed Doctor Blade during the paper making process. Such a material is sometimes known as Cellulose wadding and is used in sanitory and hygenic applications. When bleached this is known as bleached Cellulose wadding. Creped paper is another form of material and in this case the action of creping is done on a separate machine and is usually continuously lateral. When Cellulose wadding is creped it is usually discontinuously lateral. Rolls of other material may also be usedprovided it is suitable for the purpose but the two mentioned above are the most common at the present time. t

The roll of paper is usually mounted on a shaft which is overhung and free running and which is substantial enough to uphold the weight of the reel. But due to this weight and possible increases of weight in the future it places beyond the strength of the material the ability to unwind the reel and not interfere with the base weight of the material which in part is achieved by the crepe ratio therein. Moreover, in addition to the weight, a degree of braking must be applied to the reel to exert control over the reel whilst it is being unwound at speed sometimes in excess of 50 metres per minute. lf the base weight of the paper is subjected to variations in this fashion then the product (filter rods) varies accordingly and may render the filler material unsuitable lto produce a filter of constant filtration effect. This constant filter factor is important in cigarette filter manufacture but if the weight of the reel varies or there is a tugging on the reel as the web of material is unwound from it it varies the tension in the web and so varies-the filter factor. l

According to the present invention apparatus for delivering a web of material to a'cigarette vfilter rod machine comprises means for supporting a reel of material from which the web is unr'olled, frictional drive means which engage the periphery of the reel to cause it to rotate and a tension device which senses the tension in the web about to enter the filter rod machine, said device actuating rneansfor varying the drive speed of the frictional drive means to maintain a predetermined tension in the web.

Thus, with theapplicants apparatus a constant web tension canbe maintained which'provides an improved constant filter factor.

In a preferred construction the tension device in# cludes a sensing element actuated according to the web. tension and which operates control apparatus acting on the means for varying the drive speed of the frictional drive means. Thus, the sensing element may be in the form of a roller bearing on the web.

The control apparatus may conveniently include a potentiometer which transmit a signal to a servomotor or positional controller which acts on the means for l varying the drive speedof the frictional drive means.

ln any case, the means for varying the drive speed of the .frictional drive means preferably includes an infinitely variable speed gear.

Means for supporting two reels of material may be provided for` alternative use, frictional drive means being provided for each reel, and which is connected to or can be connected to variabledrive speed means controlled by the tension device.

With this arrangement the reels are preferably mounted for rotation with their axes parallel and displaced from each other.

The frictional drive means is preferably adapted for driving from the cigarette filter rod machine with which the apparatus is to be used but alternatively it may be driven from a separate power source.

The invention also includes apparatus as set forth above in combination with a cigarette filter rod machine. The web from the reel may be arranged to enter the filter lrod machine betweena pair of driven rollers for crimping, creping, or embossing the web and means are preferably provided for varying the drive speed of the driven rollers.

In such cigarette filter rod making apparatus employing a web of filter material such as cellulose acetate or crimped or creped paper it is necessary to crumble or fold the web as it enters the bustle: which shapes it into a towfrom which the filter rod is subsequently shaped and theApplicants have found that a corrugated channel can be` used to provide a desirable expansion of the `web width which improves the filtration requirements, and such a folding device may comprise a transversely corrugated channel through which material to be folded can be drawn, the channel being formed by two rows of intermeshing ribs the dimensions of which 4are arranged so that the material is stretched transversely and folded into corrugations as it passes through the channel. t y

Preferably the amplitude of each rib increases and the distance between adjacent ribs in each row de creases in the'direction of movement of the material, and the distance between the tip of a rib in one row and the tip ofa rib in the other row increases in the direction of movement of the material.

Thus, the amplitude of each rib at the entrance to the passage may be arranged to be approximately 25 percent of its amplitude at the exit therefrom and the dis tance between the tip of a rib in one row and thetip of a rib in another row may be arranged to increase by approximately 30 percent throughout the length of the ribs.

With this arrangement the distance between adjacent ribs in each row may be arranged to decrease by approximately 50 percent throughout the length of the ribs.

ln a convenient construction each rib is an isosceles triangle in cross section through its length and the ribs may be formed on the faces of two co-operating platens. z t

AIn order to place a greater amount of filler material across theV center of the rod which is subsequently formed from the web of material lpassing through the passage and to improve the shape of the rod the amplitude of the ribs may be arranged to decrease from the centre outwardly tothe transversely displaced sides of thechannel. Thus, the amplitude of the centre fold of material will be greater than at each side.

The filter rod machine may also include a device for folding and expanding the web and simultaneously gathering it into a round rod-like form. This folding device may comprise guide means having a corrugated passage through which the web is passed the dimensions ofthe corrugations varying to produce an expanding and folding effect on the paper which is also gathered to produce a round rod-like form as it emerges from the passage.

The invention may be performed in many ways but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:. Y

FIG. l is a side view of a cigarette filter rod machine provided with apparatus for delivering a web of material according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a machine shown in FIG. l,

FIG. 3 is a side view of a platen which forms the lower half of a folding device for use in the filter rod machine,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the platen shown in FIG. 3,

FIG. Sis an end view in the direction of the arrows C-C on FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is an end view in the direction of the arrows AA in FIG. 4.

As shown in the drawings the cigarette filter rod machine indicated generally by reference numeral 1 cornprises a pair of embossing rollers 2 carried in an embossing head 3 through which a webvof cellulose wadding 4 is passed to a folding and expanding device indicated by reference numeral 5. The gathered web 6 leaving the device enters a bustle 7 thence to filter rod manufacturing apparatus of known kind indicated by reference numeral 8. The apparatus 8, as mentioned above, is of well known kind and will not be therefore described further. I

The embossing rollers 2 are driven from a power shaft projecting from the filter rod apparatus 8 which carries a drive pulley I0. The drive is transmitted to an infinitely variable drive gear ll through a belt 12, the output from the drive gear 11 passing through a belt 13 to a pulley 14 mounted on a shaft l5 carrying one of thev rollers 2. The speed of drive to the rollers 2 can therefore be varied by operation of the variable speed gear ll. y

Apparatus for delivering the web 4 tov the rollers 2 comprises two sets of roller support means 20, 21. Each of the sets 20, 2l includes a reel support 22 which carries a spindle 23 on which the reels indicated by reference numerals 24, 25 can be carried for free rotation. In order to impart a rotating movement to the reels a friction bandv26 is provided which passes around a driven roller 27 carried in uprights 28. The friction band 26 also passes round guide rollers 29, and the roller 27 is driven by a band (not shown) from a drive roller 30. The drive rollers 30 are driven from a power shaft 31 emerging from the filter rod apparatus by means of a belt 32 to a lay shaft 33 and thence through a belt 34 to the input side ofvan infinitely variable gear 35 the drive of which is connected directly to a drive shaft 36 which drive the roller 30 on the unit 20 throughV a bevel gear indicated at 37. The drive continues through a second drive shaft 38 to a second bevel gear 39 for driving the roller 30 on the unit 21.

The web of material leaves the reel 24 as indicated at 40 passes around rollers 41 and 42 and rises to a control roller 43. Mounted above the control roller 43 is a sensing roller, referred to herein as dancing roller 44. This roller 44 is carried on a pair of arms 45 which are pivoted at 46 in supports 47. The axis of the pivotis vertically above the axis of rotation of the roller 43 which is also carrying the support 47. The arms 45 extend beyond the pivot 46 and carry a counter weight 48. From the roller 44 the web 4 leads directly into the embossing rollers 2. The arms 45 which carry the roller 44 are connected to a sensor or potentiometer 49 so that movement of the roller 44 about the pivot 46 is transmitted to the potentiometer 49 which transmit a proportional signal to a servomotor or position controller 50 which controls the output speed of the infinitely variable gear 35.

The web from the second reel 25 unwinds at 60 and passes around a roller 61 which is lower than the roller 41 on the uni't20 so that the web 4 from the reel 25 passes beneath the drive roller 30 and roller 41 on unit 20 to the roller 42 and up to the control roller 43 when the reel 25 is being unwound.

In order to provide manual control of the infinitely variable speed gear 35 controls are placed as indicated at 62, 63 on the supports 28.

In operation the reels 24, 25 are placed in position and the web on the reel 24 is first taken round rollers 4l, 42, 43 and 44 and led into the cigarette filter rod machine. The power drives are now operated so that the embossing rollers draw the web through them and the frictional drive web 26 causes the reel 24 to rotate. A clutch is provided in each of the bevelled gears 37 and 39 so that the reel which is not in use, which in this case is reel 25 can be disconnected from the drive.

The tension in the web is sensed by the dancing roller 44 which controls the potentiometer 49 which in turn alters the drive speed of the gear 35 so that a predetermined constant tension is maintained in the web. lt has been found that this allows a higher speed of operation than is usual from a reel of cellulose wadding of large diameter and a filter rod of acceptable standard can be produced. The web, correctly tensioned is delivered to the intermeshing embossing rollers 2 which longitudinally crimp, crepe or emboss the paper web which causes a great degree of fibrilation tooccur. As the web emerges from the embossing rollers the original width of 250 mm. is now expanded to approximately 290 mm. andthe length also undergoes a similar expansion of about l2 percent dueto the embossing.

Prior to the web entering the rod forming section of the machine 8 it passes through the device 5 for folding and expanding it a stage further and at the same time gathering it into a round rod-like form as at 6. The web,

folding, expanding and gathering device comprises two platens one male and one female and one of which is shown in the drawings, and comprises a base portion 71 in the upper surface of which a number of ribs 72 are formed. The platen which is to co-operate with that shown in the drawings is similar but the grooves and ribs are displaced to those shown so that they can cooperate with them to provide between the two platens a corrugated channel extending longitudinally along the length of the ribs between which the fibrilated web passes.

As is shown most clearly in FIGS. 5 and 6 each rib 2 is an isosceles triangle in cross section throughout its length.` Again, comparison of FIGS. Sand 6 will show that theamplitude of each rib 72 increases but the distance between adjacent ribs decreases from the right hand end of the platen shown in the drawings to the left hand end, this being the direction of movement of the web through the passage formed between the platens. Each rib 72 .has two sides 73 the length of each of these sides increasing by approximately 3() percent throughout the length of the rib so that when the two platens are placed in their co-operating positions the tip of a rib 72 on one platen and the tip of a rib 72 on the other platen increases by approximately 30 percent throughout the length of the ribs. v

ln order to provide the required folding eect the length of' the base' of each isosceles triangle which provides each rib 72.decreases by approximately 5() percent throughout the length of the rib.

The centre rib indicated by reference numeral 74 is i of greater amplitude throughout its length than the ribs to each side of it which decrease in amplitude so that the two outer ribs 75 are only about half the height of the centre rib 74. This provides a desirable expansion of the web width and a gathering of the folds and also places across the centre of the rod a greater amount of filler material which satisfies the filtration requirement and further improves the shape of the rod which is an assistance in the later assembly of the filter into a tobacco rod.

ln order to assist entry of the web into the passage between the platens the leading face of the end of the platen where the amplitude of the ribs is lowest is chamfered as shown at 6 to an angle of 15. The platen with which the platen being described is to co-operate is shown in broken lines 77 in FIG. 3 and it will be seen that the two chamfered portions 76 will assist entry of the material. Part of the second platen is also indicated by broken lines 77 in FIG. 6.

The folding device made up from the two platens is arranged in the cigarette filter rod making apparatus immediately after the pair of embossing rollers 2 the web passing from the rollers through the corrugated channel in the folding device and emerging in a folded condition thence passing directly into the bustle 7 to be made into a tow. in a round rodlike form. i

As the Yweb of material passes through the channel it will be expanded transversely. folded into corrugations and gathered into a narrow shape due to the funnel-like shape of the platens.

When the reel 24 is exhausted the machine is stopeed and the reel 25 connected appropriately. Whilst the reel 25 is being unwound the reel 24 can be replaced and ready for operation. As there is provision fortwo reels the machine can be kept in operation with only a slight delay between reels and the operation of loading the reels onto the spindles 23 can take place whilst the machine is in operation.

l claim:

l. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod comprising:

a. means for supporting a reel of material from which a web is unrolled;

b. roller means for receiving said web;

c. means for folding and expanding said web, said roller means delivering said web to said folding and expanding means, said folding and expanding means comprising a transversely corrugated channel through which said web is drawing the channel 6` formed by `two rows of interrneshing ribs the dimensions of which are arranged so that said web is stretched transversely and folded into corrugations as it passes through the channel; Y

d. frictional drive means for engaging a periphery of said reel to cause it to rotate;

e. means for sensing tension in said web which is about to enter said roller means;

f. means for varying the drive speed of said frictional drive means actuated by said tension means to maintain a predetermined tension in said web; and

g. means for gathering the web into a rod-like form after passing through said folding and expanding means.

2. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim l, further comprising control appara- V tus acting on saidmeans for varying the drive speed of said frictional drive means, said tension means comprising a sensing element actuated 4according to the i' web tension and which operates said control apparatus.

3. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 2 in which said sensing 'element is in the form of a roller bearing on the web.

4. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 2 in which said control apparatus comprises a potentiometer which transmits a signal to a positional controller which acts on said means for varying the drive speed of said frictional drive means.

.drive speed means controlled by said tension means.

7. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 6 in which said reels are mounted for rotation with their axes parallel and` displaced from each other.

8. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim l in which said roller means comprises a pair of drivenrollers for crimping, creping, or embossing said web.

9. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 8 in which means are provided for varying the drive speed to the driven rollers.

l0. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim l in which in said corrugated channel the amplitude of each rib increases and the distance between adjacent ribs in each row decreases in the direction of movement of said web, and the distance between the tip of a rib in one row and the tip of a rib in the other row increasing in the direction of movement of said web.

11. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim l0 in which amplitude of each rib at the entrance to the passage is approximately 25 percent of its amplitude at the exit therefrom.

12. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 10 in which the distance between the tip of a rib in one row and the tip of a rib in another row 15. Apparatus for making a cigarette lter rod as claimed in claim l0 in which the amplitude of the ribs decreases from the centre outwardly to the transversely displaced sides of the channel.

16. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 1 in which the ribs are formed on the faces of two co-.operating platens. 

1. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod comprising: a. means for supporting a reel of material from which a web is unrolled; b. roller means for receiving said web; c. means for folding and expanding said web, said roller means delivering said web to said folding and expanding means, said folding and expanding means comprising a transversely corrugated channel through which said web is drawing the channel formed by two rows of intermeshing ribs the dimensions of which are arranged so that said web is stretched transversely and folded into corrugations as it passes through the channel; d. frictional drive means for engaging a periphery of said reel to cause it to rotate; e. means for sensing tension in said web which is about to enter said roller means; f. means for varying the drive speed of said frictional drive means actuated by said tension means to maintain a predetermined tension in said web; and g. means for gathering the web into a rod-like form after passing through said folding and expanding means.
 2. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 1, further comprising control apparatus acting on said means for varying the drive speed of said frictional drive means, said tension means comprising a sensing element actuated according to the web tension and which operates said control apparatus.
 3. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 2 in which said sensing element is in the form of a roller bearing on the web.
 4. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 2 in which said control apparatus comprises a potentiometer which transmits a signal to a positional controller which acts on said means for varying the drive speed of said frictional drive means.
 5. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for varying the drive speed of said frictional drive means is an infinitely variable speed gear.
 6. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 1 in which means for supporting two reels of material are provided for alternative use, frictional drive means being provided for each reel, and which is connected to or can be connected to variable drive speed means controlled by said tension means.
 7. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 6 in which said reels are mounted for rotation with their axes parallel and displaced from each other.
 8. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 1 in which said roller means comprises a pair of driven rollers for crimping, creping, or embossing said web.
 9. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 8 in which means are provided For varying the drive speed to the driven rollers.
 10. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 1 in which in said corrugated channel the amplitude of each rib increases and the distance between adjacent ribs in each row decreases in the direction of movement of said web, and the distance between the tip of a rib in one row and the tip of a rib in the other row increasing in the direction of movement of said web.
 11. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 10 in which amplitude of each rib at the entrance to the passage is approximately 25 percent of its amplitude at the exit therefrom.
 12. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 10 in which the distance between the tip of a rib in one row and the tip of a rib in another row increases by approximately 30 percent throughout the length of the ribs.
 13. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 10, in which the distance between adjacent ribs on each row decreases by approximately 50 percent throughout the length of the ribs.
 14. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 10 in which each rib is an isosceles triangle in cross-section throughout its length.
 15. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 10 in which the amplitude of the ribs decreases from the centre outwardly to the transversely displaced sides of the channel.
 16. Apparatus for making a cigarette filter rod as claimed in claim 1 in which the ribs are formed on the faces of two co-operating platens. 